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Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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  • wcu_great_smoky_mtns-2794.jpg
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  • Some of them may go to lower altitudes in winter (as does the Junco) while others, from the Alleghanian zone, range upward to the mountain summits in summer. Generally speaking, however, the bird population of these mountains remains the same all year. Almost without exception they tire typical of the bird-life of the spruce woods in the far north. Thomas D. Burleigh, associate biologist of the Appalachian Forest Experiment Station, has prepared a list of eight birds typical of the Great Smokies. These eight birds are: the Golden-crowned Kinglet, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Black- capped Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Crossbill, Carolina Junco or "Snowbird", and the Black-throated Green Warbler. The first six of these are strictly Canadian zone birds, the Carolina Junto is of the Canadian and Alleghanian zones (wintering, often, at the lower altitudes) and the Black-throated Green Warbler is classed with the Alleghanian. In winter, the Black-capped Chickadees, the Kinglet and Nuthatches are found flocking together. Other members of the Canadian zone sometimes found in the Great Smokies, but less frequently than are the eight birds above, are the Hairy and Downv Woodpeckers, the Pine Siskin, the Raven and the Golden Eagle. The Tufted Titmouse is also found. Below the high tops the Black-capped Chickadee is replaced by the Carolina Chickadee. In the lower mountain reaches are found many more birds than those seen near the summits, but since the zones are not clearly defined, but pass almost imperceptibly into each other, birds'of this group may often be seen on the peaks. Among such birds are many Warblers, the Scarlet Tanager, Song and Vesper Sparrows, Baltimore Oriole, Least and Olive-sided Flycatchers, Wilson's Thrush or "Veery", the Warbling Vireo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and the Carolina Wren. Many scientific and non-scientific observers have listed birds they have seen in the Great Smokies. Some are semi- 106
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